The morning air was crisp, still carrying the faint scent of pine and earth. Nila, disguised as Niko, tied the straps of her worn-out boots, preparing for another long day with Sol. Despite the strange feelings that had taken root in her chest, she had grown used to their routine.
Sol had been quiet since dawn, his usual teasing and lightheartedness replaced with a quiet resolve. Nila had just seemed to notice that the rest of the rebels were not here, where did they all go?
"Niko," Sol finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm but firm, his eyes locking onto hers with a seriousness she hadn't seen before. "I want to take you somewhere."
Nila blinked, momentarily startled. "Somewhere? Where?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. The forest had been their home for days now, and the thought of leaving the safety of the trees sent a flicker of unease through her. Were they going on a mission? A raid, perhaps?
Is that why the rest of the rebels were not here?
Sol's lips curved into a small smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "It's a surprise," he said, standing and offering her his hand. "But I think you'll like it."
She hesitated for only a second before taking his hand, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver up her spine. Sol pulled her to her feet with ease, his grip lingering for just a moment longer than necessary before he let go. Nila swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way her heart fluttered in her chest.
She couldn't believe her stupid heart, was it fluttering so much because Sol was the first man she had been so close to?
As they began their journey through the forest, Sol was unusually quiet. Nila couldn't help but steal glances at him, wondering what was going on in that head of his. He was acting differently today, and it unnerved her. The playful banter they usually shared was absent, replaced by a tension she couldn't quite place.
After a while, unable to bear the silence any longer, she cleared her throat. "So, where exactly are we going?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light. "You're being secretive."
Sol glanced at her, his expression softening. "You'll see soon enough," he said. "It's not too far from here."
Nila raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Not too far, huh? You're not dragging me to some rebel hideout, are you?"
Sol chuckled, the sound easing the tension between them. "No rebel hideouts," he promised. "This place is a lot more comfortable than anything you've seen out here."
That surprised her. The rebels lived a simple life, rough tents, makeshift beds, and whatever supplies they could get. Comfort wasn't exactly a priority. So where on earth was Sol planning to take her?
They walked for hours, the sun rising higher in the sky as they made their way through the forest. The trees began to thin, and soon, Nila could see the outline of a grand structure in the distance. It stood against the horizon like a monument of wealth and power, its stone walls towering above the landscape, gleaming in the midday light.
Nila's breath caught in her throat. A palace? Out here?
As they drew closer, she could make out the finer details, the intricate carvings in the stone, the sprawling gardens that surrounded the estate, and the towering gates that marked the entrance. It wasn't as large as the royal palace in Navaria, but it was magnificent all the same.
"This…" Nila trailed off, her eyes wide as she stared up at the structure. "What is this place?"
Sol, standing beside her, smiled faintly. "It's mine," he said, his tone casual as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Nila's head snapped toward him, her jaw dropping slightly. "Yours?" she echoed, incredulous. "This is your house?"
Sol's lips twitched in amusement at her disbelief, ''Yes, You can say that.''
Nila blinked, her mind racing. She had grown up among the aristocracy, where wealth and power were commonplace, but Sol… Sol was a rebel. At least, that's what she had thought. And yet, here he was, claiming ownership of a mansion that looked fit for a king.
"How…?" she started, but her words trailed off as she struggled to make sense of it all.
Sol's smile widened, though there was something almost sad in his eyes. "There's more to me than meets the eye, Niko," he said quietly. "But you'll understand in time."
Before she could press him further, Sol led her through the grand gates and up the stone steps that led to the entrance. The doors were heavy and ornate, made of dark wood and lined with gold, and they swung open with a soft creak as Sol pushed them aside.
Nila's breath caught once again as she stepped inside.
The interior was just as grand as the exterior, high ceilings, polished marble floors, and rich tapestries that adorned the walls. Chandeliers hung from the ceilings, their crystals catching the light and scattering it across the room in a dazzling display. It was luxurious in every sense of the word.
And yet, despite the grandeur, there was something about the place that felt… empty. Lonely, even.
Sol's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "Feel free to explore," he said, gesturing to the wide halls that stretched out before them. "There's a library just down that corridor. I think you'll like it."
Nila nodded, still dazed from the sheer scale of everything around her. She made her way down the corridor Sol had indicated, her footsteps echoing against the marble floors. When she reached the library, she stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening once again.
The library was massive, its walls lined with shelves that reached from floor to ceiling, each one filled with books of all kinds. There were ancient tomes bound in leather, their spines cracked with age, alongside newer volumes that looked like they had been added more recently. The scent of old paper and leather filled the air, and Nila felt a strange sense of peace settle over her as she stepped inside.
She had always loved books. Growing up in the palace, she had spent countless hours in the royal library, escaping into stories of adventure and romance, of faraway lands and heroic deeds.
Nila would even sneak out and go to the forbidden adult section of the public library to read books that were normally not considered readable for the noble ladies, those adult books would leave a sensation of heat and thrill in her body, and she wondered if there was any here.
Nila ran her fingers along the spines of the books, her heart racing as she thought about the man who owned this place. Who was Sol? She had assumed he was just another rebel, fighting against the tyranny of King Cyrus, but now… now she wasn't so sure. There was a mystery to him, something deeper than she had realized, and the more time she spent with him, the more she wanted to unravel that mystery.
Nila picked up one of the books from a nearby shelf and settled into one of the chairs by the window, her mind still racing. She wasn't sure how long she sat there, lost in thought, before she noticed Sol near the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the frame.
"Enjoying yourself?" he asked, his voice soft.
Nila looked up, startled, but quickly composed herself. "This place is… incredible," she admitted, her gaze flickering to the rows of books behind her. "I've never seen anything like it."
Sol smiled, though there was a shadow of something darker in his eyes. "It's been in my family for generations,"
Nila nodded, her curiosity growing. "Your family must have been very powerful."
"They were," Sol said, his voice low.
There was a silence between them, thick with unspoken words. Nila glanced at Sol, trying to decipher the emotions playing across his face, but he was as unreadable as ever. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something important.
"Sol," she began hesitantly, "Who are you? Really?"
Sol's eyes darkened, and for a moment, Nila thought she had pushed too far. But then, he let out a soft sigh, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he stepped further into the room.
"I'll tell you," he said quietly, "but not yet."
Nila frowned, frustration bubbling up inside her. "Why not? I've trusted you, haven't I? I've been training alongside you, and I—"
"I know," Sol interrupted, his voice gentle but firm. "And I trust you too, Niko. But some things can't be rushed. You'll understand soon enough."
Nila bit her lip, unsure whether to press him further. There was something about the way he said it, the way his gaze softened as he looked at her, that made her want to believe him. She didn't know why, but she trusted Sol more than she had ever trusted any man. And that scared her more than anything.
"Alright," she said quietly, though her heart was still racing. "I'll wait."
Sol smiled then, a real smile that reached his eyes and made her chest tighten in a way she didn't quite understand. He crossed the room in a few strides and stopped in front of her, his presence warm and steady.
"Thank you," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The air between them was thick with something unspoken, something dangerous and exhilarating. Nila's pulse quickened, her breath hitching as Sol's hand brushed against hers, just for a second, but long enough to send a thrill through her entire body.
And then, just as quickly as it had begun, the moment was over. Sol straightened, his expression unreadable once again.
"I'll leave you to your books," he said, his voice steady once more.
Nila watched him leave, her heart pounding in her chest as the door clicked shut behind him. She sank back into the chair, her mind racing with questions, with doubts, with a strange sense of longing that she couldn't quite name.
Sol was hiding something, she was certain. But whatever it was, she was starting to realize that it might be more dangerous than she had ever imagined.